Book Review: The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree (Vol. 1) by Um Sae-hee (Historical K-Drama Script (Bilingual))

The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree (Vol. 1)
Um Sae-hee
Toon Toon Korean
2025
223
Paperback
Historical K-Drama Script (Bilingual)
Bought Copy

2026 Korea Times Korean Speaking Contest - My Entry

I have kept forgetting to share my video for this year's entry to the Korea Times Korean Speaking Contest, so I am finally doing so now.

I still hate my accent/pronunciation when speaking Korean. It still sounds so stilted. That's something I really want to work on hard before next year's contest .

Book Review: 틴틴팅클! by 난 (Manhwa)

틴틴팅클!
난
중앙북스
2021
348
Paperback
Manhwa
Bought Copy

Book Review: 잔소리 고양이 by 모자쿠키 (Manhwa)

잔소리 고양이
모자쿠키
Del Rey
2019 (2018)
160
Paperback
Manhwa
Bought Copy

Book Review 내 책상 위의 비밀 by 최혜련 (Short Stories)

내 책상 위의 비밀
최혜련
마음이음
2024
115
Paperback
Short Stories
Bought Copy

Book Review: 한류로 읽는 한국 문화 by 최정아 (Essays/Language Learning)

한류로 읽는 한국 문화
최정아
한글파크
2023
168
Paperback
Essays/Language Learning
Bought Copy

2025 Language Study Review & 2026 Language-Learning Plans

As 2025 ends and 2026 begins, I wanted to briefly consider my language study during the last 12 months and my plans for the next 12 months.

Let's start with the review of this year's stats:

Language Learning in 2025 - Free PDF: Language Study Tips for Every Level and Budget by Nicola Markus

During the course of the year I have written a number of blog posts and also filmed vlogs offering tips for your language-learning journey. I have collated all this information into a PDF which I am offering to all as a free download to celebrate the festive season and the end of 2025.

To grab your copy of Language Study Tips for Every Level and Budget, just follow the link below, no payment, email submission or sign-up required.

I hope the thoughts and suggestions from my years of language study will be of benefit to others who are also keen to learn a new language... or four.

Happy holidays and best wishes for 2026.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

Language Learning in 2025 - Listening

In today's language-learning vlog I discuss how to practise listening skills in a foreign language.

 

Language Learning in 2025 - Final Thoughts

Today I share the final blog post for the Language Learning in 2025 series. I hope you have enjoyed all the post during the year and have found them useful. These are just my final thoughts to wrap things up.

Final Thoughts

As these posts draw to a close, I wanted to share a few final thoughts on the language-learning journey.

Language Learning in 2025 - Grammar

In today's vlog I share a few quick tips on how to study grammar in your target foreign language.

Language Learning in 2025 - Speaking

In today's Language Learning in 2025 we finally consider the last of the six main study areas: speaking.

Speaking

Raise your hand if you think speaking is the hardest skill to practise in foreign language study.
I certainly have my fingers stretched to the ceiling, but luckily there are some avenues we can explore to help with this final, and often hardest, area.

Vlog: Mid-Year Check-In - Reading & Language Studies

In today's vlog I check in for a mid-year progress report on my reading and language studies.

Language Learning Book Review: 콩고양이 - 팥알이와 콩알이 by Nekomaki

콩고양이 - 팥알이와 콩알이 
Nekomaki
2014
190
Paperback
Manhwa/Cartoon
Bought Copy

Language: Korean ~ Book Type: Manhwa/Cartoon ~ Usage: Reading practice

Language Learning in 2025 - Listening

In today's blog post for the Language Learning in 2025 series I am looking at the options for getting in your speaking practice.

Listening

Listening is usually the easiest of all the skill areas to practice, especially since it is a passive activity you can easily fit into your day while commuting to work or school, taking a walk, eating breakfast etc. However, it doesn’t have to be solely passive. There are ways to make listening more active as we will see shortly, but first, let’s consider finding listening materials.

Vlog: Tips for Practising Writing in a Foreign Language

In today's vlog I share my thoughts on practising writing in the foreign languages you are learning.

 

Vlog: Tips for Language Learning Using Media

I realised I had forgotten to share the language learning vlog I posted on my YouTube channel in May, so here is it now!

In this vlog I discuss using media such as music, movies and TV series in language study.

There is no paid promotion in this video. Any resources I mention are simply personal recommendations based on my own experiences with those resources. There is no guarantee that other students will find them useful as everyone learns differently. 

Language Learning in 2025 - Writing

In today's post in the Language Learning in 2025 series I am focusing on writing practice, considering what to write about and how to get feedback. As always, I have no paid affiliation with any of the resources mentioned in this post; I am only suggesting them as options that have worked for me. They may not suit everyone's learning style.

Writing

There are two main areas of difficulty when it comes to practising writing in a foreign language: what to write and how to get feedback. Let’s consider each in turn.

Language Learning in 2025 - Reading

In today's post in the Language Learning in 2025 series I am focusing on reading practice, considering what to read and how to find those materials. As always, I have no paid affiliation with any of the resources mentioned in this post; I am only suggesting them as options that have worked for me. They may not suit everyone's learning style.

Reading

Reading is an extremely useful component of language study. It allows you to build vocabulary and see grammar and sentence structure in context. Depending on what you are reading, it can also provide cultural insights. The main difficulty is finding suitable reading materials to suit your level, so let’s consider that now.

Vlog: Different Levels of Fluency Across the Foreign-Language Skill Areas

In today's vlog I discuss having different levels of fluency across the various skill areas in foreign-language study.